Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar or his officers have been told to publicly announce the status of investigations into the case of a man allegedly shot dead by a police officer in Penang, about nine months ago.

Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh wants to know whether or not such investigations disclose evidence of homicide, whether it amounted to murder or not, on the part of the  police officer.

He said the family of the deceased, Kang Seak Siong ,is deeply concerned  over the status of the probe and want to know if the matter has been deliberately neglected because a police officer was involved.

If  police fail to do so, Kang’s family is seriously considering legal proceedings against the  pol officer concerned and those vicariously liable for his actions, including the government,for, inter alia, damages as a result of the killing of the deceased, he said at  a press conference held in Air Itam today.

With Ramkarpal at the press conference were several members of Kang’s family, who had previously sought the help of the late Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh before his tragic death in a car accident on April 17.

Kang was allegedly shot dead by a police officer at about 2am at an entertainment outlet at Autocity, Juru, on Oct 14 last year.

Although the suspect was remanded twice by the Bukit Mertajam Magistrate’s Court - on Oct 19 and 24, it is understood that he has not been charged, Ramkarpal said.

Kang’s family lawyers had written several times to CID  deputy chief ACP Mohd Nasir Salleh on the status of the investigations but to no avail, he claimed.

“This, despite, the existence of specific new provisions introduced to the Criminal Procedure Code requiring the police, in certain circumstances, to provide information pertaining to the status of investigations with the obvious aim of ensuring such investigations are in fact adequately carried out,” Ramkarpal said.

He added that this comes at a time where public confidence in the police force is waning and that it is imperative that such confidence be restored.

He cited the incident where Khalid's public announcement that he would not enforce a High Court order against a party in a case involving the custody of a child.

“Such confidence would certainly remain low if cases in which ordinary citizens are allegedly shot dead by police officers are not resolved urgently as it is the police who are entrusted with the task of protecting such citizens,” Ramkarpal said.